Cotton picking means



Aug 12, 1958 J. J. BRAMBLETT 2,846,837

COTTON PICKINGMEANS Filed Nov. 9, 1955 'l 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

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JOHN J. BRAMBLETT WQQ@ coTToN PICKING MEANS Filed Nov. 9, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR. JOHN J. BRAMBLETT United States Patent COTTGN PECKING MEANS .lohn J. Bramblett, Pine Blu, Ark., assigner to Ben Pearson, Incorporated, Pine Bluff, Ark., a corporation of Arkansas Application November 9, 1955, Serial No. 545,965

6 Claims. (El. 56-42) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in cotton picking means employed in cotton picking machines of the type which includes a plurality of rotatable rod-like spindles for engaging and removing the cotton fiber from cotton bolls, so-called slot means for carrying and rotatably supporting spindles and friction drive means for effecting cotton picking rotation of the spindles.

In cotton picking machines of the above mentioned type, the spindles occasionally need replacing, as for example when they become bent or worn. Heretofore it has been necessary to remove the entire slat assembly in order to replace a spindle assembly therein. This has been necessary since in prior constructions the spindles have been removable from the inward side of the slat which is inaccessible unless the slat is rst removed from the cotton picking machine. The time required for removing the slat, replacing the spindle, and subsequently replacing the slat, lhas cost many valuable man hours.

Additionally in cotton picking machines of this type there has been the problem of keeping the surface of the spindles in roughened condition so that the cotton ber will properly adhere to the spindles for removal from the cotton boils. The roughening of the spindles has been heretofore accomplished by the use of roughener means which engages the spindles. In time the spindles will become smooth, particularly due to the passage of the spindles through the stripper bars. Thus after the spindles becomes smooth it is necessary to re-roughen the spindles. It is obvious that this continual process of roughening will wear down and shorten the life of the spindles.

It is contemplated in the present invention that an improved slat and spindle assembly be provided in which the spindle assemblies may be individually replaced from the outward side of the slats, thereby obviating the necessity of removing the slats from the cotton picking machine. By providing a slat in which the spindle assemblies may be removed from the outward side of the Slat, the slat may be formed integrally in contrast to the heretofore assembled slats, in which main portions of the slats were necessarily made detachable in order to replace the spindle assemblies from the inward side of the slats. As for example in one type of construction shown in Patent No. 2,440,450, it is necessary to disassemble the slat by detaching the ribs from the backbone in order to replace the spindle assemblies. lt is further contemplated that an improved spindle be provided in which the spindles will not be smoothed by the stripper bars but will be roughened thereby, whereby the roughener means may be eliminated, if desired. It is further contemplated that improved drive means be provided for driving the spindles.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide improved cotton picking means.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved slat and spindle assembly structures wherein the spindle assembly may be replaced from the outward side of the slat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new RCC and novel spindle supporting slat structure for a cotton picking machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the spindle assembly an improved spindle, said spindle being substantially square in cross-section and having rounded corners.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a spindle having a multiplicity of longitudinal edges for cotton fiber engagement.

A further object is to provide such an edged spindle with burrs formed along such edges.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved drive rail unit for elfecting rotation of said spindles.

A further object of the invention is to provide in such a drive unit an inatable and defiatable pneumatic rubber tube for engagement with said spindle assemblies, and means for controlling and supplying air under pressure to said tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and novel means for mounting and supporting pneumatic drive rails in a cotton picking machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means of attaching spindle supporting slats to the conveyor chains of a cotton picking machine.

A further object is to generally improve the design, construction and efiiciency of cotton picker means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cotton picking spindle having a picking portion including a plurality of faces and a plurality of surfaces respectively interposed between the faces, the junction between the faces and the surfaces providing a multiplicity of cottonengaging edges disposed longitudinally of the spindle.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the acommpanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the cotton picking machine with parts broken away and removed for purposes of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan view on an enlarged scale taken as on the line lll-ll of Fig. 4 with parts broken away for purposes of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary edge View on the scale of Fig. 2 of the drive rail unit per se.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken as on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational View of the spindles passing through the stripping means with parts removed for purposes of illustration.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a slat illustrating a preferred embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a front elevational View of the device of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the same.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line X-X of Fig. 7, illustrating one socket of the slat as being empty, another socket with a spindle assembly about to be inserted therein, and a third socket after a spindle assembly has been seated.

Fig. 1l is a sectional plan view taken as on the line XI-XI of Figs. 7 and l0.

Fig. l2 is a sectional View taken as one the line XII-XII of Fig. l0.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modication in the hinge and slat.

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. l5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a further modification in the hinge and the Slat with parts broken away for purposes of illustration.

maybe employed is illustrated in Fig. l.

vFig. 16 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the device of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary side elevational View on a further-enlarged scale of the-'spindle'androller assembly.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken as on the line parts Vare indicated by numerals, va cotton picking machine of the general type in which the present invention Thus the cottonpicking machine 11 may comprise a frame 13, a khousing 15, and vertically arranged front and rear shafts '16, 17 respectively Vjournalled in hollow bearing standards 18, 19. Front shaft 16 has respectively attached at the upperrand lower ends thereof upper and lower sprockets 21, the shaft 16 and sprockets 21 providing` a rotatable front idler assembly. Rear -shaft 17 has attached to the upper and lowerends thereof drive sprockets 23 which are keyed to shaft 17. A -pair of vertically spaced upper and lower endless conveyor chains 25 engage sprockets 21, 23.

`All of the foregoing elements'of the cotton picking machine, being of usual construction, are intended for illustration only and not as limitation, since the present invention does not reside in the arrangement of the' foregoing elements, but resides in the slats, the spindle assemblies, the means for driving the spindles and in the relationship of these elements to each other andto other related elements.

A plurality of vertically extending and horizontally spaced slats 33 of the present invention are interposed between upper `and lower chains 25 to form an endless spindle carrier which `travels in a longitudinallyv elongated path. Slats 33 are pivotally connected to .upper and lower chains 25 as by hinge means. in Figs. 6, 7, S and 9 is best illustrated the preferred form of the hinge means and its manner'of attachment to the slat. Fig. 6 illustrates the hinge means attached to the upper end of slat 33. The lower end of slat 33 is shown without the hinge means attached thereto, but it will be understood that the lower hinge means is of the same construc- Ation as the upper hinge means. In the preferred form, each of said hinge means comprises a hinge 35 including `an arm 37 having an aperture 39 in which is received a hinge pin 41 of chains 25, whereby the hinge is pivotally connected to the chains. Extending angularly from Yarm .37 is an intermediate portion 42. Extending .angularly from intermediate portion 42 is an attachment arm 43. Arm 43 is spaced from and substantially parallel to arm 37, but laterally offset therefrom in a manner as best illustrated in Fig. 9. The outward end of attachment `arm 43 is bentv substantially perpendicularly to arm 43 to form stop plate 44 havingy an aperture therethrough.

'Attachment arm 43 is attached to the web 46 of a channel shaped member 47 as by welding. `Channel-shaped member 47 is provided with a pair of flanges 49 extending perpendicularly away from attachment arm 43. Thus it will be seen anges`49 extend downwardly in the upper hinge means and upwardly in the lower hinge means. The distal edgesof flanges 49 are turned in towards one another to provide turned in lip portions 51, the proximate edges of the lip portions being spaced apart. The lip portions are preferably substantially parallel to web 46. Stop plate 44 extends over the outward end of channel member 47.

At their opposite ends, each of the slats 33 preferably includes an integral retaining block 53 which is preferably of a width slightly less than the width of the slat body so that the, sides of the blocks are inset from the sides of the slat body as shown, for example, in Fig. 7. Although the retaining blocks are preferably integral with the slat, they may under appropriate conditions be formed separately and integrated therewith as by welding or the like. Adjacent the junction of the blocks 53 with slats 33, and longitudinally spaced from the ends of the blocks,

the opposite sides of each of retaining blocks 53 are cut out to provide horizontal grooves 55 extending throughout the length of retaining blocks 53. The cross sectional dimensionsof retaining blocks 53 are only slightly less than the cross sectional dimensions of the interior of channel member:47,fwhereby channel member 47 slidably and removably vengages retaining block 53 with lip portions 51 projectinginto grooves 55. The outer end of each of retaining blocks 53 is provided with a threaded socket 57 in register with the aperture in stop plate k44 when channel-shaped member 47 engages block 53, and in which is threadedly received a bolt 59 lwhich extends through the aperture in stop plate 44 and anchors hinges 35 onto slats 33.

lt will be lunderstood that in removing one of slats 33 lfrom hinges v33' bolts S9 are disengaged from sockets 57 and the slat moved inwardly until lip portions 51 aredisengaged from grooves 55. Conversely, when it is desired toV attach one of slats 33 lwith hinges 35, the inner ends of lip portions 51 are .engaged with the outer ends of grooves 55, and the slat moved outwardly relative to the hinge until the outer face of retaining blocks 53 engages stop plates 44. Bolts 59 are then threadedly engaged in sockets 57.

An alternatehinge means construction is best illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14,1 wherein a hinge 60 is formed integrally with the slat. Since the hinge means at the top and bottom of the slat is of the same construction, only one end of the slat with its integrally formed hinge 6i) is shown. Thus it will be seen hinge- 6@ is provided with a substantially rectangular arm 61 similar to Vrectangular arm 37.

of hinge 35, and is provided with an intermediate portion 63 similar to intermediate portion 42. Intermediate portion 63 is integrally connected at one end with rectangular arm- 61 and integrally connected at the-other end with the end of slat 33. Rectangular arm 6l is. provided with an aperture 65 .which is adapted to receive a hinge pin-41 and provides the means by which the hinge means may be attached to upper and lower chains v25 in the same manner `as that described for the attachment of hinge 3S with chains 2S.

Another alternate manner or" -connecting the slats and hinge means is illustrated in Figs. 15, 16 and 17. ln the present drawings one end only of the slat With its hin-ge means is shown, it being understood that the opposite end is of similar construction. In this manner of construction a retainer 67 is attached to the end of the slat. Re- -tainer'6'7 comprises a pair of side plates 69 connected at lone` of their edges by an end plate 71. Side plates 69 respectively extend along the sides of slat 33 adjacent the end thereof and are attached thereto as by screws 73. End plate71 is spaced from the end of slat 33 to provide an end chamber 75 in which is removably received the attachment portion 77 of a hinge 79. Keeper key means may be provided for retaining the hinge 79 in end chamber 75. The keeper key means may comprise a resilient keeper key 31 having an offset portion 83, and a depending lip 84. Keeper key 81 is removably interposed between the endvof the slat and attachment portion 77 whereby hinge 79 is urged outwardly to retain a lug 85 provided on attachment portion 77 in a slot 87 provided in end plate 71. When keeper key 81 is seated in place depending lip 84 is seated in a recess provided in the forward face of slat 33 and is adapted to be removably held in the recess by one of the removable spindle assemblies hereinafter described. When it is desired to remove hinge 79 the keeper key 81 is removed from end chamber 75 whereby hinge 79 may be moved inwardly toward the slat to disengage lug 85 from slot S7 so that attachment portion 77 may be withdrawn from end chamber 75. In assembling the slat with hinge 79, attachment portion 77 is inserted in end chamber 75 and then the keeper key 81 is interposed between attachment portion 77 and the end of the slot. Similar to hinge 35, hinge 79 is provided with a rectangular arm 89 parallel to and spaced from attachment portion 77 and odset to one side thereof. Rectangular arm 39 is provided with an aperture 93 which provides the means by which hinge 79 may be attached to chains 25 in a manner similar to the attachment of hinge 35 to chains 25.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that three modes of hinge means have been illustrated, the preferred embodiment comprising hinge means which is semi-permanently attached to .the slat, an alternate means which is permanently attached to the slat, and another alternate manner in which the hinge means is relatively easily detachable from the slat.

Each of slats 33 is preferably integrally formed as of aluminum or the like and comprises a vertical body member 95 and a plurality of vertically spaced end bearing means formed integral with and extending inwardly from the body member. Each of said end bearing means preferably comprises an end bearing housing 99 including a pair of laterally spaced legs 101 integrally connected by a base portion 103. An end bearing 105 is housed in the base portion 103 of each of end bearing housings 99, the axis of end bearings 105 being substantially coextensive with the longitudinal axis of end bearing housings 99.

Each of slats 33 is provided with a plurality of sockets 107 which are respectively in alinement with rear bearings 105. Sockets 107 extend from the outer face of slat 33 inwardly through the material of body member 95 and are in communication with the space between `legs 101. Sockets 107 are threaded along a portion of their length extending from the outer face of slat 33, the threaded portion being indicated as at 109.

A plurality of intermediate bearing means are respectively threadedly engaged in sockets 107. Each of said intermediate bearing means preferably comprises an externally threaded hollow plug 110 and an intermediate bearing 113 removably seated therein. Each of hollow plugs 110 is provided with a flange 111 at one end thereof and terminates at the other end in a butt 112. Each of bearings 113 is preferably formed of wood or the like and each consists of a cylindrical body portion 115 and a cylindrical end portion 117 concentric with the body portion and projecting outwardly therefrom, end portion 117 having a smaller diameter than body portion 115. End portion 117 is removably seated in the bore of hollow plug 110 with the shoulder 119, formed by the juncture of end portion 117 with body portion 115, seated in face to face engagement with butt 112. End portion 117 extends substantially the length of plug 110 with the distal end of end portion 117 being substantially flush with the outer face of the flange 111. The outside diameter of body portion 115 of each of bearings 113 is slightly less than the inside diameter of each of sockets 107 whereby body portion 115 is removably and closely fitted in sockets 107.

A plurality of spindle assemblies 121 are respectively removably and rotatably supported in sockets 107, each of spindle assemblies 121 being journalled in one of said intermediate bearing means and one of said end bearing means. Each of spindle assemblies 121 includes an elongated wire-like spindle 123 having a cotton engaging portion 125 extending along a major portion of the length thereof. The remainder of spindle 123 may comprise a rounded or cylindrical portion 127 comprising a minor portion `of the length of spindle 123. Cottonengaging portion 125 is substantially polygonal, preferably substantially square in cross-section and of substantially uniform dimension throughout its length, as best illustrated in Figs. 18 and 20. The corners of cotton-engaging portion 125 are rounded off as at 129, whereby a plurality of edges are formed as at 130 by the intersection of the flat faces 125A 'of cotton-engaging portion 125 with rounded off surface portions 129, thus creating of the predominantly substantially square crosssection an approximately octagonal cross-section consisting of alternating hat faces and surface portions, the surfaces, preferably round, being interposed between the flat faces. Rounded surfaces 129 preferably have the same radius as rounded portion 127 of spindle 123 and form an extension thereof as best illustrated in Fig. 20. 1t will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the forming of surfaces 129 by rounding off the corners of cotton-engaging portion to provide edges 1.30, but that the surfaces may be formed as by truncating the edges to form cotton-engaging portion 125 in true polygonal, as for example octagonal cross-section. Additionally each of spindle assembiies 121 includes a roller 131 frictionally fitted on rounded portion 127 intermediate the ends of spindle 121. Each of spindles 123 is provided with a tongue 133 which ts into a groove cut out in the bore of rollers 131 whereby the rollers are keyed to the spindles against relative rotation. Rollers 131 are of a diameter substantially less than the diameter of each socket 107 for easy passage of the roller therethrough. The inward end 137 of each of spindles 123 projects inwardly from roller 131 and is journalled in end bearing 105. Outward of roller 131 rounded portion 127 is journalled in an intermediate bearing 113.

It will be understood that in assembling a spindle assembly 121 with slats 33 intermediate bearing 113 is placed on the cotton engaging portion 125 of spindle 123 with the end portion 117 extending outwardly, then hollow plug 110 is placed :over end portion 117 with the butt 112 in face-to-face engagement with shoulder 119. This assembly of the plug 110, bearing 113 and spindle assembly 121 is best illustrated in Fig. 10. The assembly is then placed in one of sockets 107 and hollow plug 110 threadedly secured in socket 107. Hollow plug 110 is turned until annular Hange 111 abuts the outer face of the slat.

in seated position, as best illustrated in Fig. 11, it will be understood that roller 131 is interposed between legs 101, which are preferably internally rounded or undercut as at 1111A to receive and partially surround the roller with a close spacing therebetween. The diameter of each of rollers 131 is less than the diameter of each of sockets 107, whereby the rollers are movable through sockets 107 into and out of seated position. It also will be understood that the diameter of each of rollers 131 is greater than the width of each of legs 101 whereby the rollers will extend above and below the sides of the legs for exposure to and engagement by drive units.

For ease -of operation a pair of washers 141 may be respectively interposed between roller 131 and intermediate bearing 113, and between roller 131 and end bearing 105.

The above mentioned drive units may comprise a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed, elongated pneumatic drive rail units 145, each of which includes a longitudinally curved arcuate supporting bar 147 having a forward end section 149 attached to the forward end thereof and a rearward end section 151 attached to the rearward end thereof and a hollow tubing 153 of rubber or similar material, supported by bar 147 and sections 149, 151. Each of drive rails is supported from standards 18, 19 as by means of a pair of 'channel brackets 155 attached as by welding to the stand- Yands.

'.edge portion 158 between the forks of which is removably mounted a resilient rib of rubber or similar material 159 integrally formed with and projecting from hollow tubing .153. Tubing 153 extends throughout the length of sup- .porting bar 147 between sections 149, 151, and may be removably secured to the supporting bar by screw means .161 extending through alined apertures in bifurcated edge portion 158 and rib 159, or under some conditions they vmay be attached as by rivets. Tubing 153 preferably comprises an elongated hollow tubing of rubber or similar material defining an air chamber 162. The opposite ends of tubing 153 are respectively removably attached to sections 149, 151. The means of attachment is best .illustrated in the broken away rearward end portion of the drive rail in Fig. 2. It will be understood that the forward end of tubing 153 is attached to the forward section 149 in a similar manner and, therefore, the rearward end only is described. The attaching means comprises a connector plug 165 which is inserted in the end of tubing 153 and attached thereto as by gluing, with the other end of the connector plug being slidably received in a socket 167 in the edge of the end section. Connector 165 is held in socket 167 as by means of a screw 169 which extends through a cylindrical socket 171 communicating with socket 167 with the end of the screw being threadedly engaged in a threaded socket in the end of connector plug 165, screw 169 being limited in horizontal movement towards tubing 153 by the engagement of the enlarged head Kof the screw with a shoulder 173 provided in cylindrical socket 171.

VFrom the foregoing it is apparent that drive rail units 145 may be easily and conveniently removed from the .cotton picking means for replacement of tubing 153, as when the tubing becomes worn. Thus, to unfasten the drive rail unit for removal thereof it is only necessary .to remove cotter pins 157. After removal of units 145, tubing 153 may `be easily' unfastened from its supporting means by removing screw means 161, 169 whereby rib 159 may be withdrawn from bifurcated edge portion 158 and connector plugs 165 removed from sockets 167. Conversely, to replace tubing 153 and drive rail unit 145 substantially the reverse of the above described steps are carried out.

Connector plug 165 at the forward end of drive rail 145 is solid in cross section whereby the forward end of tubing 153 is effectively sealed oif. The connector plug 165 in the rearward en-d of drive rail 145 is provided with `an air passageway 17S extending the length of the connector plug. Each of drive rails 145 is connected by a hollow tube 177 to a manifold 179. Tubes 177 are coupled to hollow nipples 181 which are threadedly engaged in the rearward end sections 151. Hollow nipple 181 is communicated with passageway 175 by means of an air ,duct 183 provided in rearward end section 151, one end of air duct 183 being in alinement with the bore of nipple 131 and the other end of the air duct being in alinement with air passageway 175. From the foregoing it will be understood that manifold 179 is connected to each of air chambers 162 respectively through conduits, each of which comprises a tube 177, a nipple 181, an air duct 183 and air passageway 1'75.

Manifold 179 is provided with a suitable guage 185 for determining the air pressure in the manifold, and is also provided with an air inlet valve 187 which provides the means by which the manifold may be filled with air, -as for example by handfair pump, not shown, or other 8 suitable air supply means tbeinng connected lto air inlet valve 187. By the foregoing rubber tubings 153 may be inilated with air and maintained at a suitable pressure.

Rollers 131 ride o n the tubing 153 of the drive rails in a manner as best illustrated by the upper drive rail in Fig. 4, whereby when slats 33 are moved longitudinal- .ly relative to drive rails 145 rollers 131 will be rotated,

causing rotation of Vspindles 123. As illustrated, a .drive rail 145 is interposed between housing 99 in alternate vertical spacings between the housings. Thus it will be seen that the tubing 153 of each drive rail 145 contacts the roller 131 of a spindle assembly 121 above the drive rail,

,and the roller 131 of the spindle assembly below the drive rail whereby the drive rails will effect conjoint, but opposite rotation of the spindle assemblies contacted thereby.

The end sections 149, 151 are tapered towards their distal ends as at 188 and tubings 153 are tapered adjacent their opposite ends as at 188A whereby rollers 131 will be gradually guided into and out of engagement with drive rails 145.

The external cross sectional shape of the major portion of each of the tubings 153 is preferably substantially cylindrical when not contacted by rollers 131, as is illustrated in the lower drive rail shown in Fig. 4, which shows the tubing in expanded disposition, the spindle assemblies adjacent thereto having been removed. Although tubing 153 is herein illustrated as cylindrical in cross section it will be understood that it may be otherwise such as square, oval or other suitable shapes.

When rollers 131 contact tubing 153 the upper and lower faces of the tubing are thereby urged towards one another by the pressure of the rollers thereon. It will be understood that the air pressure in chamber 162 will act in an opposite direction, that is tend to force the opposite faces of tubing 153 apart thereby insuring a tight engagement between rollers 131 and tubing 153. It will be understood that the amount of air pressure in .air chamber'162 will determine the tightness of the engagement between rollers 131 and tubing 153.

Thus it is apparent, drive rail means is provided having adjustable friction means, whereby when it is desired to increase or decrease the frictional Contact between the drive rail and the rollers the air pressure is either i11- creased or decreased as the case may be. This adjustable characteristic will be particularly useful when the faces of tubing 153 become worn, in which case it will only be necessary to increase the amount of air pressure in air chamber 162 to maintain the same degree of tightness as when the tubing was not worn. Guage is preferably in plain sight of the operator of the cotton picking means, whereby the operator will be cognizant of any air leak in the drive rail air system and may adjust the air pressure to maintain the proper pressure of drive rails 145 upon rollers 121.

Included in cotton picking machine 11 are a plurality of stripper means which strips the cotton from the spindles 123, and which in the present invention performs the additional function of burring the edges of the spindles. Each of said stripper means preferably includes a pair of hardened metal stripper bars 189 which engage spindles 123 and between which the spindles pass. The stripping means may be of a usual construction including springs 191 which urge stripper bars 189 into engagement with spindles 123, or may include other means of resiliently urging the bars into spindle engagement, or may be otherwise mounted for spindle passage therebetween. Also included are stripper bar holders 193 which hold bars 189 in place, the holders being removaly secured to rib means 195, which are respectively attached to a post 197 to support the stripping means therefrom. Stripper bars 189 are preferably vertically alined and angularly disposed relative to the path of spindles 123, .as best illustrated in Fig. 1. 'Engagement of the end ofspindles 123 with a.board19.8 ywillcause the spindles 9 to have a trailing disposition when they pass through stripper bars 189, as shown in Fig. l.

As spindles 123 approach stripper bars 189 the spindles will be freely rotatable since they are no longer in engagement with drive rails 145. Upon initial engagement of spindles 123 with stripper bars 189 the spindles will be rotated under the pressure of the stripper bars upon the spindles into a disposition in which the upper and lower flat faces 125A of the spindles will be parallel ton and in engagement with the edges of the bars, as best illustrated in Fig. 5. Thus spindles 123 will pass squarely through stripper bars 139 regardless of their disposition upon approach to the stripper bars.

As the spindles 123 pass between stripper bars 189 the stripper bars moving rmly along the flat faces will create microscopic burrs as at 199 in the edges 130 of the spindles, the burrs being exaggerated in Figs. 20 and 2l for purposes of illustration. It has been found that the edges -burred as herein described will improve the holding characteristic of the spindles, that is, the ability of the spindles to hold the cotton fibers against slippage relative thereto and'will give excellent cotton picking results. Additionally, the burring might be preliminarily accomplished, before installation of the spindles in the cotton picking means, by drawing the spindles through hardened bar means similar to the stripper means herein described whereby the spindles will be conditioned for immediate use.

Heretofore in the rounded spindles employed in cotton pickers of this type, the spindles have become smooth upon passage through the stripper bars and it was necessary to provide roughening means for roughening the spindles. In the present invention stripper bars 189, upon passage of spindles 123 therethrough, will not smooth rounded surfaces 129 since the rounded corners are not engaged by the stripper bars. Thus the roughening may be applied to the rounded corners if desired.

It will be understood that in many conditions the edgeburring may be unnecessary and accordingly may be omitted without departing from thepresent invention, since the provision of longitudinal edge portions serves greatlyk to enhance ibre engagement by the spindles.

Itwill thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved cotton picking means, including improvements in the efficiency and utility of various instrumentalities employed therein. Thus it will be observed that a new and novel slat structure is provided which enhances the eiliciency and maintenance of cotton picking means and which provides a new and novel support for cotton picking spindles.

The invention further provides a new and no-vel spindle assembly adapted for support by and with the slat structure in a new and novel manner such as t-o enhance the convenience and efciency in the use and maintenance of the device. Additionally, the spindle assembly includes a cotton picking spindle embodying a new and novel concept and approach t-o the problem of picking cotton and greatly improving the efiiciency of the cotton picking operation by providing highly superior cotton picking and holding characteristics vnot heretofore obtained in prior structures, without impeding or defeating the ease of stripping the picked cotton from the spindles. Additionally, the spindle is of the type and kind, which, when the cotton is stripped therefrom upon passage between hardened bars or strippers, is reconditioned for subsequent use and maintenance of its improved cottonengaging and holding characteristics by the action of `the stripper bars along the faces of the spindles.

It will further be observed that the present invention provides a new and novel drive rail structure which additionally enhances the eiciency and utility of cotton picking means embodying the same by providing a superior frictional tensional engagement with the rollers of the cotton picking spindles insuring a more eicient spindle drive within the picking zone. Additionally the new and novel drive rail means of the present invention is adapted for ready adjustability of the drive tension exerted upon the spindle rollers by the simple increase or decrease of air pressure inflat-ing the tube thereof so as readily to compensate for any variations or discrepancies which may arise as a result of wear either of the drive rail or of the spindle rollers or both. lt will also be observed that the new drive rail structure provides a structure which is readily replaceable should the occasion for such replacement arise, and for that purpose it is conveniently removable from and replaceable in the cotton picking unit, and the drive rail tube per se may Ibe readily separately replaced from and with its holding and supporting means.

l claim:

l. ln a cotton picking machine, a spindle-carrying slat comprising a body member hav-ing an outer face, end bearing means connected to and extending inwardly from said body member, said body member being provided with a socket alined with said end bearing means and extending inwardly from said outer face through said body member, intermediate bearing means, said intermediate bearing means comprising a hollow retaining yplug and a bearing member removably housed in said plug, said plug being disengageably inserted in said socket to mount said intermediate bearing means in said slat, and a spindle assembly rotatably supported by said bearing means, said spindle assembly including a` rod-like spindle, a roller xed to said spindle adjacent but spaced outwardly from the inner end of said spindle, said roller being disposed intermediate said end bearing means and said intermediate bearing means and being of a diameter less than the diameter `of said socket for spindle-assembly insertion in and removal from said slat outer face while said intermediate bearing means is disengaged from said socket.

2. In a cotton picking machine, a spindle-carrying slat, comprising a body member having an outer face, end bearing means connected to and extending inwardly from said body member, said body member being provided with a socket alined with said end bearing means and extending inwardly from said outer face through said body member, intermediate bearing means disengageably inserted in said socket, and a spinddle assembly rotatably supported by said bearing means, said spindlde assembly including a spindle, a roller xed to said spindle adjacent but spaced outwardly from the inner end of said spindle, said roller being disposed intermediate said end bearing means and said intermediate bearing means and being of a diameter less than the diameter of said socket for spindle assembly insertion in and removal from said slat outer face while said intermediate bearing means is disengaged from said socket.

3. In a cotton picking machine wherein spindle-carrying slats are mounted by hinge means on conveyor chains, an integrally formed slat construction comprising an elongated vertical body member having an outer face, said slat having a plurality of vertically spaced bearing housings extending inwardly from said body member, each of said housings comprising an end portion and a pair of spaced legs integrally connecting said end portion with said Vertical body member, an end bearing mounted in each of said end portions, said vertical body member being provided with a plurality of sockets extending from said outer face respectively in alinement with said end bearings, a plurality of intermediate bearing means respectively removably housed in said sockets, a plurality of spindle assemblies, each of said spindle assemblies journalled in one of said end bearings and one of said intermediate bearing means, each of said spindle assemblies including a roller, said rollers being respectively interposed between the pair of legs of said housings, the width of said legs being less than the diameter of said asa-ess? 1 1 ro'llerswhereby said rollers project beyond said legs for engagementwith spindle. drive means, said rollers respectively being of a diameter less than the diameter of said sockets for spindle-assembly insertion in and removal from said slat outer face While said intermediate bearing means is removed from said socket.

4.. In a cotton picking machine wherein spindle-carrying slats are mounted by hinge means on conveyor chains, an integrally formed slat construction comprising an elongated vertical body member having an outer face, said slat having a plurality of vertically spaced bearing housings extending inwardly from said body member, an end bearing mounted in each of said bearing housings, said verticalbody member being provided with a plurality of sockets extending from said outer face respectively in alinement with said end bearings, a plurality of intermediate bearing means respectively removably housed in said sockets, and a plurality of spindle assemblies, each of said spindle assemblies journaled in one of said end bear ings and one of said intermediate bearings, the greatest diameter of each of said spindle assemblies being less than the diameter of its related socket for spindle-assembly insertion in and removal from said slat outer face while said intermediate bearing means is removed from said socket.

5. In a cotton picking machine, a spindle-carrying slat comprising a body member provided with a socket extending through said body member, bearing means disengageably inserted in said socket and a spindle assembly rotatably supported by said bearing means, said spindle assembly including a spindle engaged in said bearing means, a roller lixed to said spindle adjacent one end of said spindle beyond said bearing means at one side of said body, the other end of said spindle projecting beyond the other side of said body, said roller being of a diam'- eter less than the diameter of said socket for spindle assembly insertion in and removal from said body other side While said bearing means is disengaged from said socket. t

6. In a cotton picking machine, a spindlecarrying slat, comprising a body member provided with a plurality of sockets each extending through said body member, bearing means disengageably inserted in said sockets, and a like plurality of spindle assemblies rotatably supported by said bearing means, said spindle assemblies each. including a spindle engaged in said bearing means, a. roller fixed to said spindle adjacent one end of said spindle beyond. said bearing means at one side of said body, the other end of said spindle projectingA beyond the other side of said body, said rollers being of a diameter less than the diameter of said sockets for spindle assembly insertion in and removal from said body other side While said bearing means is disengaged from a said socket.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,506 Rust Mar. 1, 1938 2,440,450 Rust Apr. 27, 1940 2,665,536 Rust 'Jan. 12, 1954 2,668,409 Bramblett Feb. 9, 1954 2,671,298 Fergason Mar. 9, 1954 2,700,864 Fogle Feb. 1, 1955 2,705,860 Fergason Apr. 12, 1955 2,723,519 Fergason Nov. 15, 1955 2,766,574 Hubbard Oct. 16, 1956 

